Bipolar? Or something else?

Question

I get mood swings too often to be normal. They happen nearly everyday, occasionally being extreme. Some of the worst "episodes" I've ever had was once I stayed up until 6am jumping and shaking and being active and really happy, I've been so depressed that I've had to get out of school, and I've picked fights with my sister and made her cry just because I was angry with her, with no real reason. I've been starving myself for the past week(but the mood swings came way before), and self-harm. I'm only 14, and I don't want to live like this. I was supposed to see a phyciatrist but she cancelled and finding another apointment is difficult. I go to a phycologist, but she said I might need to be on medication to stabilize moods. What do you think? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

You really need to talk to a doctor or an adult you trust. If you don't get any answers, try someone else. You can also call Mental Health and ask them to assess you. That way, an appropriate doctor will be able to ask you the right questions to get to the problem.

Finding a doctor is like doing anything else; people won't always give you the answer you need. The fact that no one is pursuing the missed appointment means that they're not taking this seriously. The only important thing is that YOU feel this is serious. That means you have to keep pushing the doctors, parents, etc, until you find a doctor who will listen to you and you feel comfortable with. I agree that you need help, and you're going to have to be strong enough to push for that help until _you_ feel your needs are being met. Don't give up and don't stop. If something doesn't work or someone doesn't listen, move to the next person in line or try somewhere else.

I'm proud of you for realizing you're not as healthy as you could be. It's not going to be easy or fun, in fact it will suck sometimes, but just keep pursuing it until you get the results from people that you need. Your health is up to you to take care of, and it's a good thing that you're doing it. If you feel medication alone won't address the problem, tell them. It's very rare, in my opinion, that mental illness just starts up out of nothing. There's almost always external problems fuelling it or helping it along. Be smart, be honest, and don't lose hope. Ok?

Answer 2

Being 14 is tough enough without the potential of being bipolar added into the equation. You definitely need to see a professional to rule it out. But the meds will make a world of difference if you are bipolar. The way kids and teens behave that are bipolar is different from the way an adult beeper acts. Here are two books that may help you. You can go to your local library and ask for them. Alot of times, the library can borrow a book from another library if they don't have it. Just ask.

The Bipolar Child by Demitri Papolos & Janice Papolos
Understanding the Mind of Your Bipolar Child by Gregory Lombardo.

There are other books available. Just ask the librarian and I'm sure she will be delighted to help you find a book that can answer some of your questions. But PLEASE see a psychiatrist so he can do his magic...

Good luck.

Answer 3

I know that there is a lot in the news about depression and bipolar disorders being overdiagnosed, and people being on medication when they don't need it. It's true that happens, but a lot of people need these meds and truly benefit from them. What you're describing sounds like something that could be helped with a mood stabilizer.

I am 37 and struggled for decades with undiagnosed clinical depression AND bipolar disorder. I grew up hating my own identity, suicidal, and drowning in drugs and alcohol to try and hide the pain.

When my own daughter started showing the exact same tendencies, I got her psychiatric help that led to medication for both depression and Bipolar. While talking to the doctor about her, she diagnosed it in me, too. Today, my daughter is happy and on the road back to a good self-image, and I'm on the road to getting my life back.

If your doctor recommends something for you, give it a try. Don't worry about a stigma with these meds--there's nothing to be ashamed of. And if you're feeling better but not ALL better, tell the doc. There are a whole host of meds that do different things. You may need something different, or a higher dose of what you currently take. Just don't suffer in silence.

Good luck!!

Answer 4

Well, regardless of what it is or isn't, obviously your moods are affecting your quality of life and those around you. You say that you see a psychologist and she has suggested you might need medication. If you are being seen by a psychologist, her cases are required to be overseen by a psychiatrist as well so you shouldn't have a problem getting to see one. If, however, you feel that it is taking to long to get an appointment, you have two options. The first is that you let your psychologist know that you feel it is an emergency and need to be evaluated right away. If you do not want to go that route or believe that you will not be taken seriously, you can go to the hospital and check yourself in for an emergency psychiatric evaluation. If they deem it necessary, you will be prescribed medication immediately. One thing to note however, psychotropic medications when prescribed are a short term fix for long term problems. In many cases they are necessary but it is very important to do the psychological and emotional work on yourself to complement the process. Best of luck to you!!!

Answer 5

Antidepressants have the tendency to make melancholy worse particularly in sufferers that have bipolar disease. maximum antidepressants are no longer even FDA authorized to be utilized in treating bipolar and a few study have suggested that they do a lot greater injury than sturdy. The drug agencies do no longer desire to pay for study on bipolar melancholy by way of fact it is not as great a marketplace and due to information that advise antidepressants won't help bipolar sufferers. It keeps medical doctors questioning, ah depressed nicely here is an antidepressant devoid of thinking bipolar by way of fact there is in simple terms no longer adequate information the two way and devoid of money from drug agencies, there heavily isn't information by way of fact back, psychiatric therapy is a corprate run industry and bipolar disease isn't user-friendly adequate for human beings to grant a damn. discuss with the wellness care expert it is prescribing your antidepressants. you're able to discover which you will desire to flow off the antidepressant all at the same time or he could desire to up your dosage or change your sort. genuinely, it occurs.

Answer 6

Well I am bipolar and you kind of sound like you just may be. You need a professional to tell you for sure. But, most of what you have said sounds like things I did before I started some medication. I would make that appt with a psychiatrist because that is who has to prescribe. Be sure to get this worked out because it is hard to live like that. I know. You will feel better once you have a diagnosis of some kind and aren't questioning things so much.

Answer 7

This sounds like genuine suffering, and you're parents are right to try to get you an appointment with a Psychiatrist as soon as possible. If you've described things accurately, you may have any of a variety of disorders, including bipolar, but also neurological problems. Your family should be seen in psychotherapy as well, where the impact on you can be reduced and an effective plan to help make things better can be constructed.

Best of luck. And go see the doctor soon.

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Answer 8

My daughter was diagnosed with Bi-polar around your age .As a young teenager cycling through moods is normal for a Bi-polar teen. It is extremely important for you to see a psychiatrist and if they are not able to fit you in than find yourself an emergency room in a nearby hospital where they will have a psychiatrist on call. It is imperative that you receive help and medical attention. Bi-polar is a medical condition as any form of mental illness is and should be treated just like any other life threatening illness.

Answer 9

You really should try seeing another psychiatrist. If you are having trouble finding one, go see your doctor...he/she can probably run some blood work and refer you to a psychiatrist. He/She may also be able to prescribe an anti-depressant for you.

When you do get on meds, take them in conjunction with weekly appointments with a psychiatrist. It's been reported that individuals with mental disorders have a higher success rate when doing both instead of meds OR visits.

Answer 10

i have a lot of anxiety issues and ocd. i have a friend that is bipolar and she's a nurse. she see's a psychologist and takes lithium and a few other things to keep her stabilized. sometimes it is just a chemical imbalance in your brain and it just needs to be straightened out. there's nothing you can do about it but take some medication. it does help to talk to someone about it though so i would definatly suggest going to see a psychiatrist and get therapy with that. they can give you much better medical advice.